Officials removed 41 animals, including 18 chickens, six turkeys, six guinea fowl, four dogs, two miniature horses, a cat, goat, pig and donkey. The horses and donkey had badly overgrown hooves and skin conditions, officials said. A similar situation was found at her home in 2010, according to an official with the Agriculture Department.

Desrosiers was subsequently arrested on 41 counts of animal cruelty in April and released on $5,000 bond. June 7 was set as the date for a pretrial hearing.

Her attorney, Philip Fazzone, of Cheshire, said Desrosiers is saddened by what happened and "no malice was involved" in the way she treated the animals.

"She had good intentions, but became overwhelmed" taking care of them, Fazzone said in an interview Monday afternoon. "She just couldn't physically and financially take care of them alone."

He said the charges in her arrest warrant are "blown out of proportion" and the warrant "overexaggerated" the condition of the animals.

"She just accumulated too many and couldn't care for them," Fazzone said, adding that his client voluntarily gave up her animals.

On Monday, Judge Charles Lee approved the pre-trial hearing date and cautioned Desrosiers that she should not take in any animals until her case is resolved.

"We are going to continue this and see where we go," Lee said.

Desrosiers raced from the courtroom when the hearing was over. A man, who apparently accompanied Desrosiers to court, blocked courtroom doors so media could not gain access to her.

He yelled, "Run, Karen! Run!" Desrosiers was last seen running up Elizabeth Street, where the court is located.

Oxford Animal Control began an investigation into the situation at Desrosiers' home after it received a report of a roaming dog Feb. 20. That investigation led to the discovery of the malnourished animals.

Authorities placed the four dogs and the cat at local animal shelters. The livestock and poultry were taken to Gates Correctional Institution in Niantic, where the state maintains an animal rescue facility.

One of the dogs, a deaf German shepherd, was adopted last month by a Ledyard family for their 10-year-old son. The Tucker family was looking for a shelter dog and spotted Zero on an animal adoption website.

Their son, Marik, who is also deaf, was diagnosed with cancer last summer, said his mother, Kelli Tucker, in an earlier interview.

She said Zero is a good companion for her son and helps him keep his mind off his illness.